The History of the Franks Quotes

“A great many things keep happening, some good, some bad.”
― Gregory of Tours, The History of the Franks

“27. Among the Franks of Tournai a great feud arose because the son of one often angrily rebuked the son of another who had married his sister, for leaving his wife and visiting a prostitute.”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“The bishop saw that he was an impostor and ordered him shut up in a cell. And examining all he had, he found a great bag full of roots of different herbs and also there were moles' teeth, the bones of mice, the claws and fat of bears. He knew that these were the means of sorcery and ordered them all thrown into the river; he took his cross away and ordered him to be driven from the territory of Paris.”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“[1. Richared, the new king of Spain, sends legates to Gunthram and Childebert; they are not received by Gunthram. 2. Death of Radegunda.]”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“Then I came to the territory of Trèves and on the mountain where you are now built with my own hands the dwelling you see. I found here an image of Diana which the unbelieving people worshiped as a god.”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“Gunthram's men outside the wall abuse Gundovald and he answers with an account of his life.]”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“While they continued on their way with this plunder, Chilperic, the Nero and Herod of our time, went to his villa of Chelles, about one hundred stades distant from Paris and there hunted. One day, returning from the hunt in the dusk, when he was dismounting from his horse and had one hand on a slave's shoulder a certain one came and stabbed him with a dagger under the armpit and repeating the blow pierced his belly. A flood of blood issued at once from his mouth and the open wounds and put his wicked soul to flight.”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“and the proverb was fulfilled which I once heard an old man mention: "Always give good advice to friend and foe because the friend takes it and the foe despises it.”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“Then they sent him to me. At that time Burgundio was about twenty-five years old. He came and asked that I would consent to go to Nantes and give him the tonsure and consecrate him bishop in place of his uncle who was still living. This I refused to do since I knew it was not in accordance with the canons.”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“The king wrote also other books in verse following Sedulius as a model. But those poor verses have no relation of any sort with meter.”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“As I tell this tale I am reminded of Sallust's saying which he uttered with reference to the critics of historians. He says: "It is difficult to write history; first because deeds must be exactly represented in words and second because most men think that the condemnation of wrong doing is due to ill will and envy." However. Let us continue.”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“[10. King Clothar destroys the greater part of the rebellious Saxons and lays Thuringia waste.]”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“For the Goths had formed the detestable habit of attacking with the sword any one of their kings who did not please them, and they would appoint as king any one that took their fancy.”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“And Alaric was afraid that he would incur the anger of the Franks on account of Siagrius, seeing it is the fashion of the Goths to be terrified, and he surrendered him in chains to Clovis' envoys.”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“[21. Bishop Eparchius of Clermont finds his church at night full of demons.]”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“Now when these princes were reigning at the same time, the Basina whom we have mentioned above left her husband and came to Childeric. And when he asked anxiously for what reason she had come so far to see him it is said that she answered: " I know your worth," said she, "and that you are very strong, and therefore I have come to live with you. For let me tell you that if I had known of any one more worthy than you in parts beyond the sea I should certainly have sought to live with him." And he was glad and united her to him in marriage. And she conceived and bore a son and called his name Clovis. He was a great and distinguished warrior.”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

“I have also decided, on account of those who are losing hope of the approaching end of the world,”
― Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks